Chat with Joe Morgan

Joe Morgan

(10:45 AM)

Jordan (Atlanta)

Would Major League Baseball hide the fact that all of Sammy's bats were corked, for the sake of baseball?

Joe Morgan

(10:46 AM)

No. They wouldn't do that. Secondly, I'm with the Hall of Fame and they checked the bats he gave them. We had five on display and we checked them ourselves and they were all clean.

Steve Deal (Bellefontaine, OH)

In the wake of Sosa's corked bat mistake, MLB will likely hand down a 7 or so game suspension for a potentially minor infraction (no player is directly hurt by using a corked bat). What do you think about increasing the suspension time for in game brawls? Could an automatic suspension for leaving the bench/bullpen like in the NBA work in baseball?

Joe Morgan

(10:47 AM)

First of all, it wasn't a minor infraction. The rules say you can't do it. Minor is in the mind of the individuals. No, I think sometimes they give too large of a suspension for brawls.

Daniel (Arkansas)

How much fun was it working with Marty on Wednesday night?

Joe Morgan

(10:48 AM)

First of all, we are very close friends. Marty, Pete Rose and I used to spend a lot of time together. Marty is such a great announcer so it was a lot of fun. Working with Marty and Curt Gowdy has been a big thrill this year.

Josh (Coventry, CT)

I know it's silly, as a Red Sox fan, to be optimistic about our playoff chances, but this year, more than previous years, the Yankees look extremely vulnerable (especially in the bullpen). Do you think this is the year when the Sox finally outdo the Yanks? And do you think Pedro will make a dominant return?

Joe Morgan

(10:49 AM)

I don't think it's silly to look at your chances as positive. You have a great chance. It's a better team than you have had before. You have more bats to depend on and you are getting some great contributions from many sources. You have a great chance.

Joey, Nj

Do you think Jose Contreras is better off being a starter?

Joe Morgan

(10:50 AM)

I can't really say. I can only go by what I see. He has pitched better as a starter every time I have seen him. He looked great in a game for Cuba I did a couple years ago. He always looks better as a starter to me but it's still too early to tell.

Ricky (Albuquerque, NM)

Hey Joe! Being a loyal Mets fan, do I have anything to look forward to? It just keeps getting worse.

Joe Morgan

(10:51 AM)

They have to get better! There is no way they won't get better. They will play better as the season progresses. Burnitz has given them a spark and Alomar should get better. I just think they will play better as the year goes along.

Brian (NYC)

In your opinion, who is the best of all time at robbing homeruns in the outfield? To me that is the most exciting play in baseball.

Joe Morgan

(10:52 AM)

You have to remember they just lowered the fences to those dimensions in recent years. When I played in Cincinnati, the fence was 12-13 feet high. But now you can jump over them. Probably Mike Cameron and Torii Hunter are the two best. Had they been lower all the time, Eric Davis would be in that category. You couldn't jump over the Astrodome fence, that's for sure.

Jim Hills, Menomonee Falls WI

Joe Why is it that the majority of Major League Players don't play with injuries any more. A perfect example of this was Wednesday night when Griffey hurt his right arms during a swing, and then on the next pitch he hit a homerun and then sat out the rest of the game. It just seems if he was able to hit a homerun then he should be able to play the rest of the game.

Joe Morgan

(10:54 AM)

There is a perception that players today do not play with injuries. But sometimes when guys did it before, it was stupid. You can play with pain, but not with injuries.

Andrew (Franklin Lakes, NJ)

Joe- do you think the matchup going on at Wrigley this weekend could be a World Series preview?

Joe Morgan

(10:55 AM)

I think it's interesting. The last time the Yankees were there, Babe Ruth had his called shot. For that fact, it will be fun to watch the matchup. It's too early to tell about the World Series.

Derek Monroe

what do you think about those devils?

Joe Morgan

(10:56 AM)

I've been a Devils fan since John McMullen owned the team. I do think NJ will win but the Ducks have played very very well. The puck can bounce funny sometimes. But I think NJ will still win it.

Dustin (Muncie, IN)

Joe, what kind of pitcher is out on the trade market that the Reds can trade for? Do the Reds have enough to give for a good quality pitcher?

Joe Morgan

(10:57 AM)

There are a lot of guys that will be available because teams will want to cut payroll. But more teams will be after them. I don't know if the Reds will be able to afford what they want or have enough guys to trade to get them. It's not just about paying the salary, you have to trade something to get them.

Joey, Nj

Do you think the Orioles are finally a respectable team?

Joe Morgan

(10:58 AM)

They have some good players on the team but they are still very much a work in progress.

Philip (Denver)

Hi Joe, It seems like this years Mariners are much like the 2001 team - which worries me because they have no #1 starter to guarantee wins in the playoffs. Is this a problem?

Joe Morgan

(11:00 AM)

It depends on who they would be matched up against. But I agree, they do not have a clear cut No. 1 guy, although Moyer has pitched well and can match up with some No. 1's. I was shocked the 2001 team didn't win it all. Some teams have lost some of their toughness since 2001, including the Yankees. The teams they will potentially face will not be as strong.

Matt (NYC)

After all these years, is there a baseball team that you root for? Are you a (X-Team) Fan? Did playing for the Reds and Astros lead you to become fans of the teams?

Joe Morgan

(11:02 AM)

I'm more a fan of the Reds than anyone else. I root for individuals instead of teams. I played for the Giants and spent time here as well. I grew up a Giants fan but lived in Oakland a long time. Last year I was pulling for the Giants to play in the WS and they did. I was pulling for them to play Oakland but it just didn't happen that way.

Ken Griffey Jr.

Hey Joe, Am I going to reach 500 HR's this year or is it to late?

Joe Morgan

(11:03 AM)

If he is healthy and remains healthy, he can still make it. It's a very favorable park for hitters. His health will always be the issue with him. He could already be past 500 if not for the injuries.

Dennis (NY, NY)

Good morning Joe: Do you think we will ever get back to the "good old days" of baseball, where teams play the small ball and bunt &#x26; steal? There are very few teams who try to simply manufacture a run.

Joe Morgan

(11:05 AM)

Good morning .. I don't think we will get back to that. The parks are smaller and everyone is playing for the 3-run homer. The Angels, D-Backs and Yankees were not really home run hitting teams. Those teams did manufacture runs and they have set the example. But I don't think we will every get back to that across the board.

Adam (West Columbia, SC)

What are the Braves going to do about their pitching staff, especially their middle relief.

Joe Morgan

(11:06 AM)

They will do what everyone does .. try to find a fit. But every team will be looking for the exact same thing. There are no teams without weaknesses. The salary restrictions are the cause of that. Everyone will have a hole to fill. The Dodgers need a bat. Talent is diluted and everyone will want something at the end of the season.

Greg, NY

Hi Joe, do retired players talking amongst themselves think that a lot of the current power numbers are tainted? Or is the only relevant comparison player within eras?

Joe Morgan

(11:07 AM)

In most cases, they don't believe players today are better than them. They wish they could play in these small ballparks with such poor pitching.

Coery Patterson

I've been great this year! Is this a fluke or am I finally going to become the great player I hsould be?

Joe Morgan

(11:08 AM)

I'm not sure if you will be a great player.. but you have some mobility and you can hit for power. You will be a very good player .. just not sure about great. That word is used to loosely.

Rich - montreal

What happens when a game is played under protest - as in last night's Blue Jays/Cards game? Will anything come of this? Great game by woody!!

Joe Morgan

(11:10 AM)

90 percent of the time, nothing comes of it. It means you are protesting a rule interpretation. You can't protest an umpire's decision. You can only protest how a rule is interpreted. If you feel the infield fly rule wasn't used correctly, you can protest that.

Ned

What's worse: corking a bat or scuffing the ball?

Joe Morgan

(11:11 AM)

Very very good question. No one has bothered to think about it. They all have their own thought about what cheating is. I would say scuffing a baseball. It affects more players and the outcome of the game more. One hitter with a corked bat doesn't affect the game that much. I still don't believe a corked bat helps a hitter nearly as much as people think.

Tony (Monroeville, IN)

What is your opinion about the new computerized strike zone? Do the umpires feel like there is no chance for human error?

Joe Morgan

(11:12 AM)

I've talked to umpires. They have approached me to show me why it is a bad system. I think it's OK to use it to show trends to the umpires, as a training tool. But I don't like it to be used for hiring and firing guys. I've been told it is not as accurate as people think. Also, it's not in all the ballparks.

Gordon (NYC)

Hi Joe, Andy Pettitte is 30 years old with 132 wins and 4 rings. He could finish his career with some impressive stats, but will people dismiss them as a product of the great teams he's been on? Thanks!!

Joe Morgan

(11:14 AM)

If he continues to win games, he will be remembered as a great pitcher. You have to have great players to make a great team. Otherwise it's just a good team.

Nevada, Mo

Do you Think Roger Clemens will out duel Kerry Wood on Saturday to pick up three hundred? Or will you yet again have it allude him?

Joe Morgan

(11:17 AM)

No one knows the answer to that! He pitched well enough to win last time, the team just self destructed. The question is how well will he pitch? If he pitches as well as last time, he will win.

Santos (Huntsville, Alabama

Do you think race has something to do with Sammy's media coverage?

Joe Morgan

(11:20 AM)

As a minorty trying to look through the eyes of Sammy Sosa or Jose Canseco, I can see where Jose would draw some of those conclusions. I don't necessarily agree. But I can see where it comes from. No one attacked Mark McGwire and wanted to take away his records. The point remains, some people believe Andro helps your performance. But there just wasn't much said about it. That is probably what Canseco is referring to. I don't necessarily agree with what Jose said, but I can see where he is coming from. I think when people make statements about race, you have to see what their evidence is. You don't just dismiss or condone something based on race. If they don't have good evidence, they should keep their mouth shut.

Ed Zaboski, Philadelphia, PA

Sure Sosa's excuses look real good now but they had a few innings to switch those bats before they were seized. My question is why even have a corked one in the first place? Like he's not strong enough and the pitches aren't grooved in BP? Just doesn't make any sense.

Joe Morgan

(11:22 AM)

It makes sense to me. People used to watch McGwire early just for BP. Sammy is more of a people person than anyone I know. Instead of just hitting HRs, he wants to hit them 550 feet and really put on a show. He is more of a show than anyone. I tend to believe him because every other bat that has been X-rayed did not have cork. So I believe his explanation.

mike Ny

After Roger Clemens gets 300 are there any pichters after him who can boast that they have won 300; also will we ever see another 300 game winner in a few years from now?

Joe Morgan

(11:30 AM)

There are two possiblities as I see them. Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. They have a chance. After that, I don't think we will see another one. As usual, we are making too much out of an incident.. in this case Sammy Sosa. He did wrong, he will get suspended, now let's move on. Pitchers have long thrown spitballs and cutballs and they are in the HOF. Let's not make more of this than it really is. I talk to you again next week!